Reasons To Choose An Online Psychiatrist

Most people in the modern world suffer from mental health issues during some time point in their lives. Whether it takes the form of insomnia, long-term depression, or manifests as problems at work or in your relationship, it happens to nearly everyone. When it does, it's a good idea to consult a mental health professional, which may be an online psychiatrist.

Finding Mental Health Treatment Online

There are many sites online where you can get online mental health treatment including counseling. BetterHelp is one of them. At BetterHelp, you can search from many online counselors to help support you through depression, anxiety or transitional life events, such as a death in the family or a divorce. While BetterHelp is an excellent resource for online counseling, we don't offer online psychiatry; however there are plenty of other places to find a viable online psychiatrist, you simply have to look. One important thing to keep in mind when you're searching for the right online psychiatrist is: do your research carefully so you can find the best provider for your needs.

What is a Psychiatrist?

You might be wondering "what is a psychiatrist" or "why would I need to see one?" Psychiatrists are medical doctors who can prescribe psychiatric medication to those with mental health conditions or mental illness. They trained to diagnose and treat mental disorders and attended medical school. They are trained as doctors. They become medical doctors first. They learn about the human body and how all the organs function including the brain. After they complete their basic training, they receive specialized coursework in mental health. Psychiatrists can understand the connection between mental health issues and physical illness. They can help people function who are living with mental illness and find the right medications for their particular needs. Whether they're living with Paranoid Schizophrenia, Depression or Anxiety, a psychiatrist can help a person live their best life with the appropriate medications. Some psychiatrists provide therapy in addition to medication management. However, all psychiatrists can diagnose, administer and manage psychiatric medicines.

Psychiatrists vs. Psychologists

There's a difference between Psychiatrists and psychologists. Psychologists provide psychotherapy to their clients and use behavioral techniques to help their clients change their actions. Psychologists address emotional problems. One of the main things that psychologists do is conduct evaluations and assessments so that they can diagnose their clients. Psychiatrists focus on the symptoms that a client talks about and aims to alleviate those feelings.

One of the differences between Psychiatrists and psychologists is their schooling. Psychologists go to graduate school. They have doctoral degrees in psychology and are required to complete a 2-3 year internship in their field. Psychiatrists go through 4 years of medical school, obtain a one-year internship, and then go on to three years of specialist training time. These are the requirements for both professions; however, if they want they can pursue additional training in their respective fields.

Traditional Psychiatrists

If you're seeking a conventional psychiatrist, you can start by seeing your general practitioner. They have a list of referrals available that take your insurance. These providers can help you deal with any mental health concerns. You can find psychiatrists in many places such as hospitals, clinics or at a private practice. If you don't like your provider or don't feel comfortable talking with them about your mental health, you can choose from many other different psychiatrists. Don't give up because you had a bad experience with one psychiatrist. Sometimes you'll have to do a lot of searching until you find the right match for you.

Online Psychiatrists

In addition to traditional psychiatrists, there are ways to see a provider online. Online psychiatrists are available to provide medication management services. You can ask your doctor for a referral to a telepsychiatrist. Online psychiatrists can be a great alternative to seeing a traditional provider. You might live in a remote area, or be a busy professional that wants to see a psychiatrist on your time. Whatever the reason, many people prefer seeing online psychiatrist. You need to get a referral from your general doctor to see an online psychiatrist. Once you receive it, you can go ahead and look for an excellent online psychiatrist who meets your needs.

How an Online Psychiatrist Can Help

If you've never seen a psychiatrist before, you might not know what to expect. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor, but they focus on your mental health. Their goal is to make you feel comfortable with them enough to reveal what mental health issues you're experiencing, so they help you best. An online psychiatrist does the same thing as the one you would see in your local area. They attend to your mental health problems using the internet as a medium. You can see them using your computer, smartphone or a tablet. You can meet with your provider and discuss medication for depression, anxiety, OCD or PTSD all in a secure private location of your choice. Whether you meet with your online psychiatrist in your home, car, or office, and feel comfortable and safe discussing private mental health concerns. Online psychiatry is relatively new, but it's catching on fast. Psychiatrists you see on the internet fall into the category of telehealth or telepsychiatry. There are many benefits to consulting with psychiatrists online. It's incredibly convenient, you don't have to leave your home, and you can talk about your medication needs. For people who have social anxiety, online psychiatry can help a lot. For those of us who are busy professionals seeing a mental health professional such as a psychiatrist for medication management online is a significant plus.

Video Therapy Using An Online Psychiatrist

Video therapy is an excellent solution for those people who aren't able to access qualified clinical professionals in their local area. When you see an online psychiatrist and engage in telepsychiatry, you're choosing a mental health professional who has the appropriate clinical training, and you can access treatment from your home. It's also known as teletherapy, skype therapy or directly online therapy. You're having a clinical therapy session.

It's an excellent solution for people who have agoraphobia, those who live in remote areas or those who are on the go, and dont's have time to make regular psychiatry appointments, but still require medication management. Online psychiatry, where your provider sees you via Skype or video chat is extraordinarily viable and effective.

What You Need For a Consultation

What you need for a consultation with an online psychiatrist are a simple three things.

A quiet, private space - it could be in your home, office or even your car!

a reliable internet connection so the session can run smoothly

a computer, smartphone or a tablet

If you have these three things, then you're good to go!

One of the things that people love about online psychiatry is affordability. Meeting with an online psychiatrist is more reasonable price-wise than a face to face visit. Many people find that it's easier to express themselves through video chat in the secure and comfortable space of their home or office. Online appointments are confidential. Nobody needs to be aware that you are meeting with a psychiatrist online. Some people are fearful of the stigma of taking medication for mental health issues. They might be afraid for others to know that they are seeing a psychiatrist. Fortunately, viewing an online psychiatrist is private. You don't have to disclose to anyone that you are meeting with a psychiatrist online. That's between you and your provider.

Reasons to Choose An Online Psychiatrist

According to NAMI One in five Americans has a mental illness. Unfortunately, one in eight seeks to care for their condition. You might have a chronic mental health issue like depression or bipolar disorder. You might be going through a rough time due to a life transition. Maybe someone in your family died, or you lost your job. Perhaps you lost your job. You might be seeking out a psychiatrist because you want to take medication during an unusually stressful period in your life. Online psychiatry is a convenient way to consult with a mental health professional. It can be daunting to manage mental illness, and online psychiatry can make it much more comfortable. You can discuss your mental illness or any mental health concerns you might have. Here are some reasons you choose online psychiatrist.

You require psychiatric medication

You have a mental illness

You are having side effects on your current medications and want a second opinion

You want to change psychiatric medications

You have concerns about your mental health condition and want to see another provider

And here are some common mental health issues that can be addressed with an online psychiatrist:

Anxiety

ADHD

Bipolar Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder

Depression

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

What is an Online Psychiatry Session Like

You might be wondering, what's it like to meet with an online psychiatrist? It's extremely similar to seeing a traditional provider, except that you see an online psychiatry via the Internet. An online psychiatry session is much more convenient than a traditional appointment, because you can meet with your provider online at a time that's conveninent for you. You don't need to travel to any appointments and you can be completely candid about your symptoms. You don't have to hide your feelings when you meet with an online psychiatrist. You're safe in your home. You can talk about any mental health issues you have and feel comfortable to express yourself freely. You and your provider will develop a treatment plan as you speak to them over time. You will have an ongoing relationship. They will get to know you and help you as your psychiatric needs change over time.

Seeking A Psychiatrist Online

Wouldn't it be great to see a psychiatrist in the privacy of your home? It sounds like a fantastic idea, but it's important to do your research before deciding to see an online psychiatrist. Be careful when you're looking for a psychiatrist online. Like with many services on the internet, there are a few charlatans out there. In the United States, as in most countries, the requirements for calling yourself a psychiatrist, counselor or psychologist are very strict and inflexible, but it may be impossible to verify whether a person advertising online is licensed or not.

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The good news is that a few services can guarantee the credentials of any psychiatrist or counselor you will find working with them. Yes, work with and not for; the actual mental health professionals typically use these websites as a referral service instead of being employed by them. From a patient's point of view, one of the functions of these organizations is making sure that only qualified counselors with experience in treating mental health issues can use their platform.

Amazing Convenience

Many people simply can't afford to take an hour off work every week to see a psychiatrist in a traditional setting. Pursuing therapy online, however, requires nothing of the sort: you can communicate with your counselor by email, over text chat, or schedule an appointment for a phone or video call. Should you think of something significant to your emotional development at 3 a.m., nothing stops you from sending your thoughts to your therapist at that moment, who will reply as soon as time permits. Since all you need is an internet connection, you will also have access to your therapist from nearly anywhere, including while traveling.

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Finding Inexpensive Counseling

Although psychologists are experts at steering conversations toward therapeutically productive areas, it's difficult to fill an entire hour with significant insights into your mental and emotional state. Online therapy facilitates a more effective way for a single therapist to handle several clients simultaneously, without neglecting any of them. Communicating in this way means that you will not always receive a response in real time, but this is rarely a problem. A decent communication lag allows you time to think about all you've said and heard in this ongoing conversation, which makes therapy even more effective.

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Access a Broad Pool of Mental Health Professionals

One of the challenges when it comes to counseling is finding a mental health provider who treats all of your concerns. Most counselors tend to specialize in only one or two areas: family counseling, treating addiction, healing depression or any of several others. However, it is quite common for a person's mental health issues to span more than one of these categories. Using online therapy provides you access to a large database of mental health professionals who specialize in various issues. For example, you can see an online therapist for anxiety and to talk about parenting issues. It's crucial to see a counselor who can address all of your concerns with mental health, and you can.

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Finding an online psychiatrist or therapist can be done in minutes, costs less than you'd expect and gives you access to a sympathetic and knowledgeable professional at any time of the day or night. While some people will certainly have their reasons for choosing traditional person to person therapy, online counseling has many points in its favor.

Choose the Type of Therapy that Works Best for You

Not only can you choose among many different therapists who offer counseling online, but you can also choose a therapist who uses the techniques that work best for you. Most therapists offer cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a type of therapy in which you examine the thoughts behind your feelings and actions to consciously change your behavior. This is perhaps the most popular form of therapy currently.

However, there are also many other types of therapy you might choose. For example, dialectical behavior therapy is often used for people who want to improve their emotional stability. Mindfulness-based therapies can be an excellent choice for people with anxiety. Traditional psychotherapy examines past issues and relationships and is often the best choice for people still suffering because of childhood traumas. Whatever your issues and whatever your preferences for treatment, you can usually find the modality that is best for you.

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Take Therapists for a Test Run

Typically, when someone looks for a therapist in their local area, they have little to go on unless someone they know is already in therapy with someone they would recommend. More often than not, the insurance company gives you a small list of providers from which to choose. Since online therapy is affordable without the help of an insurance company, you have total freedom to choose any of the therapists available.

Another advantage to choosing an online theraspist is that you can learn more about them before deciding to work with them. Their profile on the site they work through is always available to look at, and there are testimonials written about their work online. You can read information about the therapist, their education, their certifications, their experience, and the types of therapy they specialize in. Their photo, also shown on their profile, makes you feel more familiar with them before you sign up for therapy.

If you think you've found a therapist that would be a good fit for you but you just aren't sure, you can have a first session in which you can take them for a trial run. Because you aren't using insurance, there's no paperwork or re-approval process to go through if you decide that therapist isn't for you. All you have to do is choose another therapist and set up another appointment.

Keep Your Therapy Your Business

Although all clinical psychologists and counselors must adhere to a strict code of confidentiality, practical matters can sometimes interfere with your privacy. First, the insurance company needs to know the reason you're seeking therapy. The counselor will have to report to them on your progress and need for more therapy.

People may also find out about your counseling in the course of everyday life if you see a local counselor. If you need to get off work to go to an appointment, someone will usually need to know why you're getting off work and where you're going. In addition, when you have an appointment in the office to see your therapist, others might see you enter into the building and spread the news that you're seeing a psychologist.

When you choose an online psychiatrist or therapist, you control where your sessions take place, and consequently who knows about them. If you're concerned that someone will hear you speaking during a phone or video session, you can always choose to communicate with your counselor via text or email. Of course, it would be nice if everyone understood that mental health issues are common, but unfortunately, we're still fighting the stigma of mental illness. In an ideal world, everyone would realize that dealing with your problems is much better than avoiding therapy. However, the truth is that getting counseling is still something that many people don't understand. So, it makes sense to keep it private. With online therapy, that's easy to do.

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Have as Much Therapy as You Like

When you choose an online counselor, you can decide the frequency and duration of treatment. You can have sessions weekly if you like or stick with a semi-monthly schedule. There's no insurance company involved that might tell you that you can't continue therapy as long as you like. If you solve one problem and move on to another, there's no one telling you to get another approval letter. On the other hand, if you want to have a few sessions to deal with a specific issue, you can do that instead. You don't have to explain your choice to anyone or beg them to agree. You are totally in control of how long you stay in therapy.

Remain Anonymous

When you engage in online counseling, you never have to divulge your identity to anyone. Not to your therapist, an insurance company, or anyone else for that matter. This gives you an amazing level of freedom to talk about anything you like. You can tell the counselor your darkest fears, your most disturbing thoughts, your secret pleasures, and your fondest desires without worry of being exposed. What you might not realize is that others have similar thoughts and feelings but just never tell anyone. As an online counseling client, though, you can discuss them and learn to overcome their power over you.

Start Now, While You're Motivated

Often, people decide to go into counseling and never make it to their first session. What usually happens is that they make the decision in a moment of clarity, but by the time they wade through all the red tape and wait for the therapist to have an opening, they've lost their momentum.

With an online psychiatrist or counselor, you can make the decision now and follow up with a first session in very short order. Why wait? After all, it's your mental health at stake. Very little else is as important to your well-being and success. The sooner you reach out for help, the sooner you can find healing and peace. Even better news is that once you make that first courageous step, continuing in counseling may be easier than you ever thought possible.

The information on this page is not intended to be a substitution for diagnosis, treatment, or informed professional advice. You should not take any action or avoid taking any action without consulting with a qualified mental health professional. For more information, please read our terms of use.

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